Sony reportedly has some new headphones on the way, supposedly called ‘The ColleXion’. If you’re thinking it’s a bit early, considering the Japanese company only launched the XM6 last year, you’d be right. Except these aren’t likely to compete with the XM6. Although by the rendered look of them, they won’t be much different either.
That’s assuming the renders resemble reality. Luckily, leaks from Steve H. McFly and Android Headlines usually turn out to be spot on, if not merely pretty close. Still, until Sony takes the covers off, the prescribed pinch of salt should also be taken.
Wrapped in leather* and shiny metal
The renders show off the rumoured colourways — Black and White, in this case (although Sony is likely to call them something else) — sporting what looks to be a leather covering and shiny metal bits down the sides of the headband close to the hinges. We doubt that it will be real leather. Sony probably doesn’t want environmentalists throwing paint at their building, but fake leather can be pretty convincing these days.
The likely-fake leather and shiny metal also give credence to previous rumours suggesting these headphones would target folks who wouldn’t think twice about paying an extra couple thousand for a collector’s- or limited-edition headset. Their rumoured price is thought to be around the $650-mark (about R10,730 directly converted. Considering the WH-1000XM6 sells locally for R11,000, The ColleXion would probably come in closer to R15,000.
Another rumoured bit of info is that these should fix a common source of complaints with Sony’s XM range — the feeble hinges — with a new design. There also appears to be some reinforcement around the USB-C port, but that could also be a design flourish from Sony, or the renderer.
Time will tell which of the rumours holds water. If the release rumour is one of them, we shouldn’t have to wait too much longer. Their launch (or at least announcement) is expected on 19 May, that’s roughly when Sony announced the first of its XM range (called the MDR-1000X at that point). 10th anniversary edition Sony headphones, anyone?
*Real animals are unlikely to have been harmed
